Hello, JP and friends! I don't know how you think to do both a video and still images in the midst of a removal, JP. Impressive.

I'm interested in the new vacuum design, too, though I doubt anything will keep me from killing so many bees during removals. I've tried both the Walter Kelly vac and the Robo vac, and I still have a good-sized pile of wet and dead bees in the end. Which means I seldom have a viable hive once the removal is complete...I end up combining the cut out with a strong hive and using the queen for splits or in queenless hives. HELP.

Liz, I find that you will always have a few dead bees no matter which brand of vacuum you are using. If you are having a large wet clump, you are vacuuming up to much nectar and honey with the bees. Try turning the suction down till you just lift them off the comb. I sometimes use smoke to run them off the comb, then vacuum them up.

Liz, I find that you will always have a few dead bees no matter which brand of vacuum you are using. If you are having a large wet clump, you are vacuuming up to much nectar and honey with the bees. Try turning the suction down till you just lift them off the comb. I sometimes use smoke to run them off the comb, then vacuum them up.

Yes...I'm definitely vacuuming honey and nectar with the bees. Sometimes my vacuum even lifts the cap from the brood! But, I tell you, I already have the suction set very low. Perhaps running them off the combs with smoke and then vacuuming them is my answer. I'll try it and tell you how it goes, tefer2. Thanks.